LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

, By Smash. FORTHCOMING EVENTS February 27.' —Otago v. Eastern Districts, at Dunedin; Otago v. Vincent, at Dunedin. Easter. —Auckland tournament. Easter.—Wellington tournament. Easter.—Canterbury tournament. Easter.—Otago tournament. Easter.—Tuapeka Sub-association’s tournament. at Roxburgh. VISIT TO TIMARU The Otago team, which visited Timaru during the week-end for the purpose of playing a match against South Canterbury, did not strike a blow for the honour and glory of the province, but nevertheless it had some rather exciting experiences of the difficulties of travel in flooded areas. Conditions were eo bad in Timaru on Saturday afternoon that play was entirely out of the question, and, to occupy the time, a table tennis tournament was arranged in the Y.M.G.A. Hall. In this tourney, Pollock and Deaker distinguished themselves, the “championship” being won by the former, who defeated Deaker in the semi-final and Minifie (Timaru) in the final. ’ On Sunday the weather showed only a slight improvement, and in consequence of the flooded state of the rivers the start of the homeward journey -was delayed until the evening. The bus had not proceeded far when it became apparent that the journey was not going to be devoid of adventure. It was found that the road bridge over the Pareora was impassable, and the tourists had to alight from their bus, cross the railway bridge on foot, and pick up another bus bn the Dunedin side of the river. Owing to the murky weather and the quantities of water on the road at various points the trip was a long and wearisome one, and Dunedin was not reached uptil Monday morning, no one being sorry when “ journey’s end ” was reached. It is now hoped to play t,he Timaru match when the Otago team is'proceeding northward to fulfil its engagement with Canterbury some time in April. THE GRADE , COMPETITIONS Play was rendered impossible by the weather on Saturday afternoon, and as a result the B Grade competition suffered another postponement, , On Saturday next matches are To be played at Logan Park against the Eastern and Vincent Sub-associations, and this has made necessary some rearrangements for the grade matches that were drawn for these courts. The clubs concerned have been notified of the alterations. The following is the present jmsition of the teams in A 1 Grade competition:—

In the All Oracle, Anderson's Bay and North-East Valley are the leading teams, and the odds appear to be in favour or the former club. The BI competition is well advanced and Kaituna has now only to defeat Caversham, whom they are due to meet in the next round, to become the winners of i this grade. Both clubs have strong teams, but Kaituna appears to have the better prospects. ■> £ In B2 section Cosy pell is the only team which has not yet suffered a defeat. North-East Valley and _ St. Mary’s' fill second place in this section, b°th having Buffered one loss.

St. Clair A and North-East Valley are the two unbeaten teams in the Cl competition. Tainui, with only one loss, fills second place in this section. In the C2 Grade, St, Mary’s is the only team without a loss. 5 „ . : ST. KILDA MOANA MATCH

Dear “ Smash,” —Anent your report in last week’s notes of the match between Moana and St. Kilda, it would appear that your information was supplied by either a member or supporter of the former team. Had you witnessed the match yourself, I am quite sure that you would have had no reason to. attribute the defeat) of Guy and Duthie, in the Men’s Doubles, to anythihg save the superior all-round play of their opponents. However, your report states that the match was ah unsatisfactory one, owing to one or two doubtful decisions by the umpire. I am not permanently resident in Dunedin, but I have been privileged to see the Australian ladies in action and a number of the events during the New . Year tournament. On both .these occasions the umpiring was, in the* main, pitiable, but I can find no such suggestion in your notes. During the matches with the Australian ladies particularly I was forced to the conclusion that the standard of umpiring in Otago was very low, yet no word of complaint was heard from the players themselves, who accepted all decisions in true sporting spirit. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Moana-St. Kilda match. I write from a' period of 23 years’ umpiring experience in England and Australia principally, where a higher standard of play 'obtains, and necessarily demands a particularly, high standard of umpiring. I, too, have had my decisions criticised, but was taken by surprise at some of the remarks passed concerning the umpire of the Men’s Doubles match above referred to. In my opinion, though, perhaps, I, too, am open to criticism, the decisions left nothing to be desired, but the match was notable for the regrettable spirit of sportsmanship shown by certain members of the Moana team and their supporters. I could write a great deal more, but I do not wish to cite individuals, though I will say that there appear to be certain senior players who are inclined to take their tennis too seriously, instead of playing for the game’s sake. In conclusion, I would point out that the umpire referred to is unknown to and by me, but may take consolation in the fact that, in the opinion of one who has been privileged to officiate at a number of the world’s leading tourneys, his control of the game in question left nothing to be desired. I hope you will publish this letter in fairness to the umpire concerned, and I would like you to understand that I have the welfare of the good old game at heart,, and my letter therefore must not be taken in the nature of destructive criticism or intended hurt to any individual.—l am, etc., H. R. Burton.

[ln the match in question Pollock and Deaker beat Guy and Duthie, 6 — 5, 6—o. Further comment would appear to be superfluous.—Smash.] TWO RANKING LISTS Following the New Zealand championships unofficial ranking lists of the Dominion’s “ First Ten ” usually make their appearance. The following list has been formulated by ‘‘ Half-Volley,” of the Auckland Star: 1. C. Angas (Canterbury). 2. H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). 3. N. R. C. Wilson (Wellington), 4. E. L. Bartleet (Auckland). 4. D. G. France (Wellington). 6. N, G. Sturt (Auckland). 7. A. C. Stedman (Auckland). 8. R. A. Court (Hawke’s Bay). 9. A. L. France (Wellington). 10. D. G. Glanville (Canterbury), 10. M. M. Morrison (Auckland). “ Server.” of the New Zealand Referee, next tries his hand, but does not rank Stedman “because his performances do not warrant it.” His list is as follows: 1. C. Angas (Canterbury). 2. H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). 3. D. G. France (Wellington). 4. N. R. C. Wilson (Wellington). 5. B. L. Bartleet (Auckland). 6. I. A. Seay (Canterbury). 7. R. A. Court (Hawke’s Bay). 8. A. L. France (Wellington). 9. N. G. Sturt (Auckland). 10. D. F. Glanville (Canterbury). NOTES The draw for the Davis Cup matches in the American zone is as follows: First round: United States v. Canada. Second round: Winner of the first round v. Mexico; Australia v. Cuba. Therefore if Australia defeats Cuba it will have to play the United States to decide the winner of the American zone. “I am afraid that it has been very disappointing,” was the answer of Mr R. Browning when he was asked at the meeting of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association last week regarding Sunday

play at Wilding Park. Up to the present only £9 had-- been taken by the association for the hiring of courts for play on Sundays. A sensation has been caused in Wellington by the action of the Lawn Tenuis Association there in suspending Miss Marie Williams to the end of the 1932-33 season and Mr Pat Williams to the end of the 1933-34 season for taking part in a tournament run by the Roman Catholic Federation Association, an unaffiliated body. Proceedings are also being taken against other players for similar offences. Miss Williams has been a leading light in the game in Wellington for several seasons, both a s a representative player and in senior interclub games. Mr Pat Williams was the organiser of the tournament complained of. It is understood that the suspension applies only to interclub matches and tournaments, and not to matches within the club it.self. THE • PROFESSIONAL GAME The Tilden Tennis Tours were seen in Paris for the first time at the Palais des Sports. About 8000 spectators were present to witness anbther of the “ professional championships of the world,” to quote the company’s announcements. On the first evening Tilden beat Martin Plaa by 6 —l, 6—4, 6—3; K. Kozeluh beat Hunter, 6 —2, 7—5; and in a doubles, match Tilden and Hunter beat Kozeluh and Albert Burke. On the second evening Tilden beat Kozeluh, 6—3, 6—2, 7—5, to win this exhibition “championship. Burke beat Hunter, 6—3, 6 4, and 4n a doubles Tilden and Hunter beat Plaa and Burke, 6—4, 4—o, 6—4. The critic of the Chicago Tribune, Paris edition, says that it was a very dull spectacle, and remarks that in professional tennis “the shots are perfect, but the spirit is one of tranquil resignation.” The same writer doubts whether this type of exhibition can be kept on a paying basis for more than another 12 months. JACK CRAWFORD Jack Crawford, who is.one of the mostdiscussed personalities in the game in Australia, recently informed the Australian selectors that he would decline to be a member of this year’s Davis Cup team unless his wife were allowed to accompany him. _ This is how Mr Henry Marsh sums him up: — “ Jack Crawford is a lawn tennis enigma. He will play a superlative game to-day, and descend to a mediocre level to-morrow. There has never been so disappointing a player in big tennis. It is generally considered that his failures are due mainly to the fact that he does not train seriously In fact, he does not recognise that he owes it to Australia and the game to make good. “Crawford is easy going and careless. If out of touch, he seems to wish to impress his unfitness _on the spectators rather than to set his teeth and make the best of whatever disability he is suffering from. He seldom wins six love if six three or six four will do. " Part of his lapse may be due to the fact that his game depends on perfect timing. He takes the rising ball, the half-volley—every stroke as it comes, to him. Usually a 'man goes back or comes forward to get at the return in an orthodox and easy way. “ Then, again, he has bronchial troubles occasionally, and these may affect him more than we realise. Be that as may, Crawford is a great disappointment. “ If Crawford would train seriously and pay strict attention to his diet, there would be, no reason why he should not win the -world's championship, said J. Clemenger. , _ , , There was no doubt that Crawford 'was a tennis genius, but he was carrying as least a stone too much weight. No matter how brilliant a player might be, he could not carry that excess of weight and keep his form. i . UNION NOTES PLAYING HINTS The doubles game ..(continued from last week): —• , 6. The receiver in doubles has, of course, a far more subtle task than in singles, as he has the extra player to contend with. The receiver’s object should be to break up the formation of the serving side and to this end an angled return offers perhaps the most favourable opportunity, as such a return will almost invariably open up the centre of the, court. A good lob may also be equally effective, but a poor lob will usually mean a point lost. 7. If your partner is receiving, your position should be at the net, and your partner must : endeavour to get there as quickly as possible. Until a doubles pair has developed into a fairly strong combination, this principle, that the receiver s partner should be at the net, may be waived. But the two > at the back-of-the-court position is certainly antiquated and defensive and certainly flatters the service and minimises the worth of a good return. 8. Pairs should always work in a parallel formation. This is ;the essence of all good doubles play and f is,the epitome of all that has been said previously. When one player is forced back the other should fall back too, and be ready to advance together immediately the opportunity occurs. The opportunity for doing so depends mainly on the players themselves, in so far as the player making the shot must endeavour to return such a ball as can be safely followed in to the net. So long as the returns allow the opposing players to remain at the net, the other pair must be on the defensive the whole time. ■' Doubles is essentially a team game, and, as has been said before, experienced and well-blended pairs,,, even if only moderate players, are worth more to a side than two champions who do not combine well. It is hoped that these few notes on doubles play will to some extent help to engender this team spirit, and so help to lessen some of the “ individualism,”: which is very apparent in some of the doubles play. As this is the last set of playing hints which will be published this year, the hope is expressed that they have been of some j value, especially to beginners, in whose, interests they have mainly been compiled. NOTES ; Club delegates are reminded of the General Committee meeting to be held tonight. It is hoped that every club; especially the new ones, will be represented, so that afay decisions arrived at may be fully representative of all the clubs. Arrangements for the Easter, tourney (appointment of 1 handicappers, etc.), and consideration of the form which the final social function of the year .will take, will be the chief items of business. Last Saturday was the first Saturday this seaison ;on which the clerk of the weather has not been kindly disposed towards Union matches. As' the season, is now nearing the end, the- draw in the B sections has been seriously complicated by this postponement. ' The grounds arranged for two of .these matches have thus had to be changed, but, this was the only possible solution of the problem if any finality is to be reached in the B sections by the. enj of the season. For /some unknown reason no ladder matches have been played lately._ The number played so far this season is now 13 among the men and only four among the ladies.

Let us have your repairs! Guys Ltd., tennis specialists. Note new address: 47 Moray place, opposite Y.M.C.A. Phone 11-775.—Advt.

P. W. U Pts. Roslyn .. ,. 4 A 8 Kaituna' ., , 4 1 8 Moan a .. , 3 4 6 Otago ., ., , .. 5 3 2; 6 St. Kilda ,, , 3 3 6 University | *. , .. .. 6 — 6 —